Atlético plays a good part of its chances of saving the season this week. Long ago ruled out of the fight for the league (fourteen points behind the leader, Real Madrid) and eliminated from the Copa del Rey, their only option for a title is through the Champions League, in which tomorrow, Wednesday, they host Inter at the Metropolitano with the need to overcome the 1-0 loss that came from San Siro.
The match comes to the colchoneros at a very bad time, after losing the weekend (2-0) at the Nuevo Mirandilla in Cádiz in one of the worst matches of the course. Furthermore, the vagaries of the calendar have meant that they host Barcelona on Sunday and, a new defeat, could leave them out of fourth place for the moment, which ensures the Champions League, if Athletic Club beats Alavés in San Mamés. Ernesto Valverde's men are now in a much better dynamic.
Simeone wanted to use the previous press conference to give an optimistic speech and ask for the encouragement of his people: "I absolutely trust my players and my team and I know that tomorrow is going to be a good game. Until the game with Bilbao We had a very good season at home. Inter is one of the best teams in Europe and it is true that in four of the last five games away from home we have not maintained the level and football does not forgive when you make a mistake. But now we have the opportunity to have our revenge."
Asked what arguments he had to think about the comeback, he responded dryly: "I don't have much to talk about and I don't have to talk too much. I trust one hundred percent in the players and my team. I know they are going to play a good game." and I see the tie even. Don't ask me to explain the way we are going to play."
The good news for Atlético is the return of Griezmann, who returns to the squad after his injury that occurred precisely on February 20 at San Siro. However, without counting the four games he has missed, the Frenchman has gone eight games without scoring. Morata is not on a good streak either. He has twenty goals, but only one in the last ten games.
Inter's numbers worry Atlético and give the Italians the status of favorite. Inter has played thirteen games in 2024 and has won all thirteen. They already have Serie A in their pocket because in 28 rounds they have 75 points compared to 59 for second place, their neighbors AC Milan. Of the 38 games played this season they have only lost two.
The precedents could not be more favorable to Inter. Of the twelve times they won the first leg 1-0 in European qualifiers, they surpassed the round eleven times. Their only defeat came in the 1994-95 UEFA Cup against Aston Villa, when they lost on penalties.
In Atlético's favor, their strength at the Metropolitano counts, where throughout the season they have only lost to Athletic Club in the Cup semi-final. Of the last 31 official matches in their stadium they have won 28, drawn two and lost one.
For the match, Simone Inzaghi will not be able to count on either the Austrian Marko Arnautovic, scorer of the only goal in the first leg, or the Brazilian Carlos Augusto, left winger, although they are two casualties that do not hardly disrupt the approach. Inzaghi's only doubt lies in the center of the defense, since both the Italian Francesco Acerbi and the Dutch Stefan de Vrij can accompany the Italian Alessandro Bastoni and Pavard in the usual line of three centre-backs. The rest will be the gala eleven.
